Book 23 Chapter 6

The Fifty Thousand Nyang Tournament

―Humans are not like that

Early morning.

There was a person ascending the rugged mountain path of Mount Heng (衡山), the Southern Sacred Mountain (南岳) among the Five Sacred Mountains of Zhongyuan (中原), located in Hunan Province. Surprisingly, it was a young girl who appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old. The girl's hair was an unusual, soft silver, as if molten pure silver had been poured into it. Judging by the silver longsword slung across her back, she was undoubtedly a swordswoman.

It was early spring, and the mountain was not flat, nor was the path conveniently paved. Yet, the girl ascended the ridge of Mount Heng with ease, without a drop of sweat, as if leisurely strolling. For someone climbing a mountain for the first time, it would have been a journey so arduous it could be deadly, but for the girl, who had ascended and descended it hundreds of times, this path felt as light as a casual morning walk. It was the marvelous efficacy brought about by repetition upon repetition.

Soon, a fork in the road appeared before the girl. Fortunately, there was a signpost. An arrow pointed to the left, and on it were the words 'Mount Heng Sect' (형산파). Mount Heng had long been the deep-rooted home of the Mount Heng Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, making it the guardian of this mountain. However, the direction she was heading was not that way. Without hesitation, the girl turned towards the right path, which had no signpost. After walking for a considerable time again, a rather spacious and flat plain appeared, surrounded by sheer cliffs like a folding screen. Directly beneath that cliff stood a small thatched hut, unfazed by falling rocks. Although old, it was neatly maintained. Such details revealed the personality of the hut's owner.

It was a stark contrast to the Mount Heng Sect, where hundreds of scholars lived, but this was the girl's destination.

Approaching the door cautiously, the silver-haired girl greeted in a respectful tone.

"Master, this is your disciple, Ryu Eun-gyeong."

Ryu Eun-gyeong, that was the name of this silver-haired girl. It seemed this thatched hut was where the girl's master resided.

"Cough, cough!"

Instead of a reply, a coughing sound came from inside the hut. It was the sound of her master's cough, which the girl always heard.

"Master?"

The silver-haired girl, Ryu Eun-gyeong, called out again. Then she waited. She knew her master did not want to show her disheveled state. It required preparation time.

After a moment, a reply came.

"Come in."

"Yes."

Ryu Eun-gyeong replied respectfully, then took off her shoes, arranged them neatly, and carefully opened the door.

Inside the room, a woman with an extremely pale complexion, dressed neatly, was seated in a formal posture, waiting for the girl. A silver sword lay neatly on the woman's lap. Uniquely, her hair was also the same soft silver as the girl's. Because of this, her snow-white complexion appeared even more pallid. It was skin so translucent that one could almost see the veins. This woman was none other than the sword immortal (劍仙子), Lee Yak-byeong, the silver-haired girl's master.

"Disciple greets Master."

After another bout of light coughing, Lee Yak-byeong returned the greeting.

"Rise."

She stood up, bowed slightly at the waist, and then knelt before her master again.

"It has been a while."

"Yes, Master. Six months. Have you been well?"

"As you can see, I have been well. So, you said it was difficult to go out freely because of your mother's watchful eye, why have you come all the way here?"

Ryu Eun-gyeong's home was a renowned martial family, located at a suitable distance from Mount Heng, right in front of it. Therefore, she could visit as often as she pleased if she wished, but due to family constraints, she could not freely come and go.

"I have been ordered by the acting head of the family to go to Ganghoran-do. I have come to report on that matter."

She had a brief period of free time before leaving for Ganghoran-do, allowing her to visit her master, whom she had not seen in a while. Otherwise, she would have been confined to her home for months, in what was not quite a confinement.

"Haa, hearing you call your mother 'acting' head of the family, it seems things are still the same."

"It's not something that will change in a month or two. People don't change that easily."

Ryu Eun-gyeong replied with a dark expression. Knowing her disciple's hardships, Lee Yak-byeong wanted to help in any way she could, but it was a family matter, and there was nothing she could do.

"But why are you going to Ganghoran-do?"

Lee Yak-byeong knew well what kind of place it was. She didn't feel there was much for her to do in such an entertainment district.

"Um… Have you heard of the Fifty Thousand Nyang Tournament being held in Ganghoran-do?"

"Well, I haven't been down the mountain for a while, so I don't know. But the tournament name is quite unusual."

"They say it's called that because the prize money is a whopping fifty thousand nyang."

"Hoho, fifty thousand nyang… How many people will go mad this time?"

That amount of money was enough to instantly drive a person's reason away.

"I apologize. I will be participating in that tournament."

"Is that true?"

She asked in surprise. Ryu Eun-gyeong nodded obediently.

"You know well what kind of place the Untong (圓筒) Arena there is. What can you possibly do in such a cauldron of madness? It's a place where you risk your life. It's on a different level from ordinary sparring where you end the fight before inflicting fatal injuries. You are still…"

"…I know."

"Does your mother know about this?"

At that moment, a pained expression crossed the girl's face.

"…"

"…As I thought, she knows."

Lee Yak-byeong's voice had become somber. Ryu Eun-gyeong did not reply one way or the other.

"Is it for money?"

"She said it was for revenge. He, Chil-sang-heon, is there."

"From your perspective, is that the truth? Or is it just what you want to believe?"

"Perhaps… the latter."

Ryu Eun-gyeong replied in a voice filled with bitterness.

Currently, the Ryu family was without a head of family. It was due to illness. The one who had severely injured the Ryu family head and left him bedridden was none other than Chil-sang-heon, who had performed the 'hundred-man slayer' feat. However, her mother, who had become acting head, had remained inactive for years even after discovering his whereabouts. Then, suddenly, she became furious, insisting on going to Ganghoran-do to exact revenge. She declared that Ryu Eun-gyeong should not even think of setting foot in the house again until she took revenge. It was something anyone would find strange.

Behind it was the fifty thousand nyang prize money.

Certainly, with that amount, anyone would be tempted. Ryu Eun-gyeong inwardly suspected as much. She believed that hardship made people grow, and the emotional trials she had experienced since childhood had made her more mature than children her age. Therefore, she knew that outward appearances were not everything. She had grown enough to grasp the ugliness hidden beneath the surface.

Even in her pain, she realized that revenge was merely a fine-sounding excuse. However, it was a painful realization accompanied by a deep shadow.

"Your mother is truly too much. Even though you are mother and daughter by blood, you and your son…"

Unable to continue speaking due to her coughing, Lee Yak-byeong said with a bitter smile, and Ryu Eun-gyeong replied,

"There's nothing to be done. I am destined to be hated."

These were not words that a lively and vibrant nineteen-year-old girl would normally utter.

"Forget about the blood relatives and family who do nothing for you. Forget about the blood that only burdens you. When you go out into the world, you are the sole successor to me, the sword immortal Lee Yak-byeong. You can be proud and honored."

It was Master Lee Yak-byeong's wish to provide a firm foundation for her precarious disciple. At her master's thoughtful gesture, Ryu Eun-gyeong's eyes welled up.

"I will keep that in mind, Master."

So far, no one had treated her with such kindness except for Master Lee Yak-byeong. She had given Ryu Eun-gyeong what she had not received from her family. In fact, she wished she could receive this warm heart, this warmth, from her mother.

Drip!

A tear rolled down the cheek of Ryu Eun-gyeong, who could no longer hold back. Lee Yak-byeong's heart ached, seeing her young disciple's inner turmoil so clearly, and she silently approached and embraced her sobbing disciple's shoulders.

"Don't cry, child. I have taught you everything. You have talent. Talent so exceptional that even your own parents are wary of it. Talent so brilliant that it would be no surprise if you became the successor, pushing aside your son. They call it a 'conical awl in a leather bag' (囊中之錐). A sharp awl will reveal itself even when it's in a leather bag! Survive! With all your might! With your chest puffed out. You are worth it."

Believing in her disciple, and ensuring that her disciple did not disappoint herself, was all Lee Yak-byeong could do at that moment.

The sobbing Ryu Eun-gyeong could no longer hold back and burst into tears. These were not tears of sadness. It was because, in this world, there was still someone who looked out for her.

While the disciple's tears soaked her robes, Lee Yak-byeong stood silently. She knew that some pains could only be shed through tears, and that it was necessary to let them out before they festered in her heart.

Just as the rainy season eventually ends, the amount of accumulated tears also had an end. Ryu Eun-gyeong, her face flushed red from crying, carefully spoke before her master.

"However, there is one problem."

"What is it?"

Lee Yak-byeong asked.

"The matches are all held in teams of three. But I have no one to form a team with. I am a loner…"

Even her family had abandoned her. She wondered if it would have been better to be an orphan with no one. Therefore, she could not trust anyone. It was natural for her to become a loner.

"That is indeed a big problem. Hmm…"

Lee Yak-byeong pondered for a long time. She wanted to give her pitiful disciple some secret strategy. However, her connections were not extensive. Due to her frail health, she had few opportunities to socialize. Moreover, most of the people she had befriended were from orthodox sects. But Ganghoran-do was clearly the territory of the dark sects. Therefore, the threads of connection had become extremely faint.

She searched her memory with all her might. As the saying goes, sincere effort reaches heaven. Her desperate effort seemed to reach heaven, and she finally found one person.

"Yes, I think I can introduce you to one person you can ask for help."

"Really? Who is it?"

Ryu Eun-gyeong, who had not expected this, lifted her head and asked. Her questioning manner suggested she didn't even believe her master much. Her deep-seated distrust was evident.

"I heard that the delegation from the Heavenly Martial Academy (천무학관) this time includes all Nine Dragons and Seven Peaks. Among them, I have met the children of the Namgung family."

More precisely, she had a friendly relationship with the wife of the Namgung family head. Through that connection, she had visited the place several times and been treated well. She still remembered the two intelligent children she met then.

"Wow, you know the Namgung family, Master! That's amazing!"

While her family was not insignificant, it paled in comparison to the Namgung family, one of the Eight Great Families of the martial world.

Lee Yak-byeong took out a jade pendant from her embrace and offered it to Ryu Eun-gyeong. It was engraved with an elegant orchid pattern.

"This is…"

"This is my master's token. They will know that I sent you if they see this."

Ryu Eun-gyeong respectfully accepted the jade pendant with both hands, bowed, and carefully placed it in her bosom.

"Um, Master?"

"What is it?"

"I have one question, what is that person's name?"

Lee Yak-byeong realized her oversight.

"Ah, I haven't even told you his name yet. The name of the child who can help you is Namgung Sang. He is called the Lightning Sword Dragon (뇌전검룡) in the martial world. I recently heard that he even won a sparring match against Jin So-ryeong, the Jade Maiden of Emei (아미신녀), one of the Five Great Sword Masters of the world. Although Jin Mae fought with some restrictions, it couldn't have been easy. He is undoubtedly a great talent, which will be of great help to you."

Lee Yak-byeong said in a gentle voice, hoping that her disciple would be cheered up by this. However, at that moment, a new seed of anxiety was already growing in Ryu Eun-gyeong's heart.

"But Master, there's a problem."

"Is there another problem?"

Ryu Eun-gyeong nodded with a dark expression.

"What should I do? I have nothing to pay as compensation for the help."

Her face was very serious.

"Well, I think he'll help you anyway?"

If she knew Namgung Sang, he would certainly do so. Moreover, it was a request from her mother's friend, who was called an aunt. There was no way he would refuse. However, her disciple did not seem to think so.

"No. Absolutely not. To help without any compensation? I can't believe such a thing would really happen."

Her distrust of the world was so deep that it was almost pathological; she firmly believed that people wouldn't help her without receiving something in return.

"Well, as there are people like that in the world, aren't there people like this? There's no need to be so absolute, is there?"

Ryu Eun-gyeong shook her head vigorously.

"No, it's impossible. Humans are not like that. That's a made-up story for naive children to deceive and mislead the world. Only such fictional characters can help others without any benefit. Real humans are not like that. Humans are not that naive. This world is rotten!"

The words were too sweet, so Ryu Eun-gyeong vehemently denied them. She was afraid of being hurt if she believed them too readily.

'Sigh, I didn't realize this child's distrust of the world ran so deep…'

It was clear that her upbringing had been problematic.

'Will this child be alright? With such deep distrust and negativity towards the world… I just hope she doesn't do anything rash…'

Lee Yak-byeong hoped that this trip to the martial world would be a good opportunity. She hoped that the children of the Namgung family would be a good connection for this disciple… That was all Lee Yak-byeong could do now.

"Then I will take my leave, Master."

As Ryu Eun-gyeong bid farewell, Lee Yak-byeong gave her final advice.

"Come back healthy. There's no need to harm yourself by dwelling on victory or defeat. Don't risk your life for such trivial matters."

It wasn't worth risking your life for such things. It was foolish to risk your life solely on your mother's command. What is wrong is wrong. Even if it is an order from a blood relative.

"Yes, Master. I will engrave it in my heart."

After bidding farewell to Master Lee Yak-byeong, Ryu Eun-gyeong departed alone for Ganghoran-do. Unaware of what awaited her. Unaware of what she would do to Namgung Sang. All of this stemmed from her encounter with a woman in black clothes. But that was a story for a later time.